Soulcombe gets his first taste of Group 1 racing at Caulfield

Soulcombe will get his first taste of Group 1 racing at Caulfield this Saturday when he returns to the scene of his eye-popping first-up win.

The imported gelding will be one of multiple runners for Chris Waller in the $750,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m).

It is the next step in a campaign aimed at the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup and while Waller said the race will be short of his best, it comes at the right stage of his preparation.

“The 1800 metres will probably be a bit short second-up, but it’s just perfect timing,” Waller said.

Soulcombe resumed with victory in the Listed Heatherlie Handicap (1700m), which rocketed him to the second line of betting on the Melbourne Cup.

It was the son of Frankel’s first start since his second placing in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m), which followed two plain performances in Sydney earlier in the campaign, which left Waller excited about the preparation ahead.

“You always hope that speed is in those Group One horses and it wasn’t in Sydney, so it was good to see,” he said.

“He is obviously a little bit better left-handed but most importantly the race flowed, he never got held up and he finished off strongly, which was good to see.”

Soulcombe was one of 26 entries for the Underwood Stakes, accompanied by stablemates Lindermann and El Bodegon.

Lindermann is the other certain starter for Waller, who has called on Hall of Fame jockey Hugh Bowman to take the ride aboard the Rosehill Guineas winner, who was a last-start fourth placegetter in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).

“Hugh Bowman comes out to ride, he’s had no luck with barriers from the Doncaster last prep through to the two runs this prep. He’s drawn wide every time,” Waller said.

“The 1800 metres will suit him, his run last start in the Chelmsford was good and he’s ready to go.”

Others entered for the Underwood Stakes include Caulfield Cup favourite Without A Fight, last Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes runner-up Alligator Blood and defending Melbourne Cup champion Gold Trip.